Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Termination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hopewell council deadlocks on termination of city employee; severance proposed
Summary
The Hopewell City Council voted on a motion to terminate Dr. Kinsettia Manker without cause and to pay six months' severance and certain benefits; the motion failed in a 3-3 tie.
The Hopewell City Council considered and voted on a motion to terminate the employment of Dr. Kinsettia Manker without cause and to provide a severance payout of six months' pay plus certain benefits, as outlined in section 10 of her employment agreement. The motion failed on a 3-3 tie.
The vote came after a closed-session discussion convened under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711(A)(1) and (8) to consider personnel matters and consult with legal counsel about specific legal matters related to council appointments. Councilors returned to open session and then took the termination vote. Councilor Holloway commented during discussion that the matter had been long-standing and said, "in the spirit of moving things forward, I'll call for the vote." The council then proceeded to roll-call voting.
According to roll call recorded on the record, Councilor Stokes voted "no," Vice Mayor Joyner voted "yes," Councilor Harris voted "no," Mayor Pardon voted "yes," Councilor Holloway voted "no," and Councilor Day voted "yes." The motion was announced to have "failed 3 to 3." The transcript does not record a vote from Councilor Ellis on the motion.
The motion as placed on the floor asked that the city "terminate the employment of Doctor Kinsettia Manker without cause, pursuant to her employment agreement, effective immediately," and that the city "pay her severance payout of 6 months of pay, plus certain benefits, as outlined in section 10 of her agreement." The transcript shows a second was offered, but the transcript does not clearly identify who moved the motion or which councilor seconded it.
Earlier in the meeting the council met in closed session under the cited sections of the Virginia Code to discuss "direct appointments of city council" including the city attorney, city clerk, and city manager. Following the closed session the council certified compliance with Virginia Code § 2.2-3712(B) before resuming open session and voting on the personnel motion.
No further action on Dr. Manker's employment was recorded in the transcript. The council adjourned after the vote.
